Apparatus for rescuing crews of submarines



Aug. 18, 1931. c. E. OLSON 1,819,918

APPARATUS FOR nmscume CREWS OF SUBMARINES Filed July 25. 1928 3 Shets-Sheet 1 INYENTORI ATTORNEY Aug. 18, 1931- c. E. OLSON 319.913"

APPARATUS FOR RESCUING CREWS OF SUBMARINES Filed July 25; 1928 a Sheets-Sh'ec' 2 1 I 4"1,111,111.,IIIIIIIIIIII, am

a fiwiesfl Olson,-

INVENTOR ATTORNEY Aug. 18, 1931. c E. OLSON APPARATUS FOR RESCUING CREWS OF SUBMARINES Filed July 23, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 67107 296 15. Olson,

ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 18, 1931 siaaia PATENT, OFFICE CHARLES E. OLSON, F BRIDGE-PORT, CONNECTICUT APPARATUS FOR RESCUING CREWS OF SUBMARINES Application filed. July 23,

The object of this invention is to provide rescue apparatus which includes a special section to be connected to one of the hatch ways in the hull of a sunken vessel, this con- 51 nection to be secured to other sections constituting a tube designed to extend slightly above the surface of the water and down wardly to the vessel, and a vertically movable element or lifting device operating within the tube for receiving and lifting to the surface the members of the imprisoned crew.

A further object is to provide for the use of the divers, a pontoon having the necessary air and water connections determining position below the surface, and permitting of the assembly of sections of the apparatus, at any reasonable depth, to prevent interference with the operations by rolling seas.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of elements described, illustrated and claimed, it being understood that modifications may be made within the scope of the claim without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings forming part of this application Figure 1 is a plan view showing a portion of the hull of a vessel, with a hatch secured to one of the hatch-ways or man-holes.

Figure 2 is a section on line 22 of Figure 1 and shows the securing means for the outer cover of the hatch-way, and means for releasing the inner hatch or man-hole cover.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the structure of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a vertical section thru the lower section of the apparatus tobe secured to the edge portions of the hatch-way of Figures ,1 and 2.

Figure 5 is a section on line 55 of Figure 4, and shows a portion of the wall of the lower tube section, and the vertical rails for guiding the elevating device.

Figure 6 is a vertical section thru a pontoon with means for admitting water for submerging purposes, and, at the right, means for admitting air for ejecting water, thru the check valve at the left, when the pontoon is to be raised.

1928. Serial No. 294,655.

Figure 7 is a vertical section of the upper portion of the tubular structure within which the elevator operates, the upper tube connection being used for admitting air and forcing the water out of the tube. V

Figure 8 is a vertical section thru a portion of the tubular structure, the elevating device for individual members ofthe crew therein being in elevation.

The lower section of the apparatus forming the subject matter of this case is shown especially in Figure 1 and includes an upper wall 10, side portions, and a lower portion 11 having a hatch-way or man-hole 12, the edge portions of which are in the form of flanges as shown at 13. Theflange or flanges are to be secured within a depressed portion or recess 14, in the hull 15 of the sunken vessel. This depressed portion 14,- is' closed by an outer man-hole cover or hatch 16.

An inner hatch or man-hole cover 1,? in.- cludes a lower flanged portion 18 and an outer threaded portion 19 for cooperation with internal threads on the flange 15 of the hull plate 15. I

Retained by flange 18 of the inner manhole cover is a split ring or the like 20 secured by elements 21 and carried by an arm 22 having formed therewith a tubular portion 23. 'The latter comprises a part of a link hinge, 25 pivotally mounted at 26 on' a bracket 27 secured to the under side of the hull plate adjacentztothe hatch-way under discussion. This form of mounting permits of the movement of the hatch 17 from the position of Figure 2 to that of Figure 4,

' The hatch 17 includes a flanged portion 30 formed as a worm wheel for cooperation with worm 31 on shaft 32. This shaft carries a worm wheel 33 engaged by worm 34 on shaft 35. The shaft last named may be rotated by means of a crank, not shown, Which may be applied to the inner end, at 35 or to the outer end portion 35", after theremo-val of the cap nutor plug 36. lVithi'n the housing or lower section which may be considered as a whole as section 38 of the-tubular structure, isa bracing device 39, and rails 40 and ll are secured respectively to this element 39 and to the portion'or bracket element 39'.

The upper wall 10 of the section 38 carries a flanged portion 42 to which the next tubular section 43 is to be secured by means of bolts 44, a gasket being shown at 45. The rails 40 and 41 are retained in section 43 by securing devices 46 of any suitable character. Completing the sect-ion 38 are other man-hole or hatch-way connections 46 and 47, these members of the lower hatch-way connection. being at various-angles, to, permit the lower section 38 of the tubular structure to be se cured as nearly as possible in a vertical position, notwithstanding the position in which the hull of the vessel may be lying.

It should be added that the lower section carries a heavy ring bolt 48 for a cable 49 by means of which the section may be raised, and lowered. A valved connection 50 permits of the ejection of water, under air pres sure from above, thru the vertical tube, after connection has been effected between the flanges 13 and the hull plate of the vessel.

The upper section of the tubular structure is shown in Figure 7 and is designated 55, the rails being indicated by 40 and 41 as before. Thissection 55 is closed by cap plate or cover plate 56 retained by bolts 57. Air tube 58 is connected with plate, 56 and coin municates with the interior of the tubular structure for the purpose of introducingair under pressure and forcing out the water, as indicated. After the water has been thus ejected, the elevator or cage-(30 is tobe lowered into. the tubular structure, and is: provided with a door-way 61, the rollers orwheel's 62 cooperating with the rails 40 and 41 in an obvious manner.

The lower section of the tubular structure is to be secured by divers, andthe hatch plates 16 and 17 are to be released-,after the water has been driven out of the tube structure, and the valve 5@ closed. It is assumed that a man will be sent down with the elevator or cage GOand will render any assistanee necessary tothe members of the crew who are to be rescued from the sunken vessel.

In the event that any are unconscious they may beremoved by use of harness or the like by which they are to be lifted into the elevatingdevice and thence carried on to the surface. It is of course understood that the upper section 55 of the tubular structure is to project above the surface of thewater, a sufiicient distance to permit the device 60 to be raised so that the door-Way 61 will be opposite a-corresponding door-way in the upper tube section 55.

In order to aflord protection from rolling seas and permit the divers to operate successfully, and to carry to the scene of operations allsections of the apparatus required,a somewhat large pontoon will be employed, equipped as in Figure 6. This structure is represented as a whole by reference number 7 O, and the upper portion carries an eye bolt 71, and the lower portion an eye bolt 7 2, these elements being designed for connection with cables such as 73 and 74. The pontoon is to be used for raising and lowering the main sections of the apparatus.

An air hose 75. extends to the air inlet connection 76 for the pontoon, this connection being under the control of a valve 77 which may be operated by chain 78. The valve is held closed by a spring 79, and is opened by producingtension on chain 78, so that the divers may introduce compressed air for ejecting water from the interior of the closed pontoon, thru connection 80 controlled by a: check valve 81.

WVater may be admitted to the pontoon thru connection 82 controlled by valve 83, the latter including an arm 84-connected with a chain 85, which may also-beoperated' from any convenient point. by one of the divers. for admitting water, to the requireddegree to permit of submerging thepontoon, inthe manner desired the admission of water: and the admission of air for ejectingthe water, determining the degree of submergence.

WVhat is claimed is v In an apparatus of the class described, a lower tube section and housing having manholes in a plurality of walls extending atan angle with each other, additional tube sections connectedwith that first named, car guiding ra-ils extendingthrusaid sections, a

structure having a hatch-way for connection with one of the manholes of the housing, means for closing the hatchway-, and rotatable means for releasing the closing means from the interior and exterior of the structure, the rotatable means includingintermeshi'ngelements one of which is tiltable incident to the closing movement, anda prerequisite thereof. l

In testimony whereof I affixmy signature.

CHARLES E. OLSON. 

